Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based practice that has been showing positive results for the past 30 years to help children and adolescents between the ages of 3-17 years old recover after traumatic experiences. TF-CBT is a short-term treatment model that effectively improves a range of trauma-related outcomes in a series of 8 – 25 sessions with the child and caregiver. This modality is well-suited for youth experiencing posttraumatic stress-related symptoms by enhancing safety and coping skills proven to manage and reduce the intensity of traumatic symptoms and restore daily functioning Clients typically show progress after eight sessions of engaging in TF-CBT components as they learn coping skills, master skills, process trauma experiences, and experience a reduction in their trauma symptoms.

Goals of TF-CBT

• Increase understanding of the impacts of trauma and develop skills to cope with trauma impacts.

• Decrease emotional distress related to trauma memories and develop a healthy understanding of trauma experiences.

• Increase open communication and safety with family.

​Benefits of Youth Receiving TF-CBT:

• Improved more quickly than traditional treatment care.

• Had a shorter length of treatment compared to those receiving traditional care services.

• Had a greater symptom reduction experienced by youth following treatment.

• Did not need as many additional services during treatment and the year following.

• Used fewer types of psychotropic medications.

​What should I expect if my child receives TF-CBT as a service?

• Each child and caregiver will identify the "Top Challenges" they are currently facing.

• Each child and caregiver will rate how severe the identified challenges are each week.

• Each child and caregiver will answer some questions about the identified challenges that children typically face each week.

• TF-CBT is accompanied by the Clinical Health Assessment Response Tracking System (CHART), a user-friendly, web-based program that tracks how children and families are responding to counseling and allows their Clinician to adjust and refine the counseling program in real-time based upon the progress of each family.

• Each week, whether families see their clinician or not, the child and caregivers will fill out a survey online through an email link or when they meet with their clinician.

• The family and their Clinician can review the family's progress over time by looking at a convenient graph that shows:

• The gains that have been made​

• The skills families and Clinicians have used.

• The challenges that remain.

• The family's Clinician will keep track of the tools and techniques that are used in counseling to track of child's hard work.

​If you are interested in your family being a part of, or believe your family could benefit from TF-CBT, submit a referral to us!